Slog
News & ArtsFriday, December 17, 2010
Crime Seattle Bike Carolers Allegedly Attacked By Car on Pike Street
Posted by Cienna Madrid on Fri, Dec 17, 2010 at 5:26 PM
On Tuesday, the bike-loving folks at Point83.com announced a caroling bike ride through the streets of Seattle, scheduled for Thursday (yesterday):
I think the cat is largely out of the bag regarding this Thursday's ride, so let me just spill the beans to those of you who haven't already heard: This Thursday, I'm taking you all Christmas caroling. I do still have a few surprises up my sleeves, but you’ll have to show up to find out what they are. This is going to be something a little different than I believe .83 has ever done before.A few notes:
1) If you can, dress festively. We're spreading Christmas cheer, dammit!
2) You will want to show up at WLC a little earlier than usual. Santa has presents for all of you.
3) Feel free to invite friends who may otherwise not be a good fit for the organization.
4) Drinks will be provided Joby-style along the route, but the first opportunity to hit a grocery store won't occur until closer to 9:00, so if you're finnicky bring beer with you to WLC.I've been promoting the ride outside the normal channels and I think this should be fun. I'll see all your merry asses on Thursday night.
Ho ho ho, bitches.
Sounds cool, right? So yesterday, they go out spreading Christmas cheer, until a car approaches...
Well, HolyJesus, didn't expect THAT to happen tonight!Here's my brief account, in case you guys all got too drunk off egg nog and forgot what the hell happened:
-Riding bikes up Pike in a big wide group, taking up all lanes, singing Christmas Carols for all, so fun : )
-A testy driver wants by, tries swerving through the group (woh there mister)
-Pulls up, waiting behind us at a red light
-Drives into Rider A's wheel, tacoing it (will leave names out for now)
-Many photos taken of driver and license plate, diver states, "You guys are crazy!" (Really?! YOU are mister)
-Drives over Rider B's foot, rider is pissed (as they should be!) and kicks the shit out of the door (awesome exertion of energy to witness)
-Driver tries to speed off, in the process Rider C's seat is ran over, crushing it, and they somehow end up on the hood of driver’s speeding and swerving car (how the hell did you end up there, Bud?!) and up the street they go, over I-5 toward Capitol Hill while we all freak out, no longer in any sort of control over the situation
-I ride as fast as I can to catch up, meet them at the next red light
-Driver stops at red light, and the somehow-alive Rider C simply, smoothly, calmly, confidently slides off car hood, driver speeds away at the green, and Rider walks back with me down to the group who is all wondering: WTF JUST HAPPENED?!!?!? Many on their cell phones calling 9-1-1 (thanks to all who did!)So, let's, umm, NOT do that one ever again, eh?!
Highlights:
-No one is injured or dead (somehow)
-Jobies music bike spreading Christmas cheer and good energy (as always!)
-and Happy egg nog caroling with the Sugarplum Elves at Volunteer Park : )
When people bitch about the city's "bicycle agenda" (coughcoughSeattleTimescough), I want to strap them to a bike and show them what it feels like to be stalked by an aggressive driver. During a confrontation like this, the worst thing that can happen to a driver is a dented car or a smashed windshield. The worst thing that can happen to a cyclist is a broken body.
Thank god no one was hurt.
2
Is there an epilogue where some charges are being pressed? I'd be filing against that driver myself. Driving with someone on your hood is some fucked up crime.
3
I'm confused. So these bikes were taking up all the lanes, going less than the speed limit, and the organizers encouraged the riders to bring beer (so they could drink and bike)?
The driver was obviously out of line. But why didn't the bikers let him pass? Why take up all the lanes?
Some drivers are nuts! No doubt about it. And why he couldn't just go up a different street is just insane. But this situation could easily have been diffused.
The driver was obviously out of line. But why didn't the bikers let him pass? Why take up all the lanes?
Some drivers are nuts! No doubt about it. And why he couldn't just go up a different street is just insane. But this situation could easily have been diffused.
4
I agree with @3, taking up all lanes is inconsiderate at least. Share the road applies to cars and bikes.
5
I know every night that I've ever seen a group of drunk bicyclists spanning the lanes of a street I thought, hey, that should work out fine. What could go wrong?
6
The bikers were clearly not being as considerate as they could be in terms of taking up all the lines. But I have to ask you: What behavior makes it acceptable for a car to run over three people? Is it okay for him to do it if he was inconvenienced?
7
@6 Nothing makes it ok. However, they certainly could have done a lot more to avoid it. If I take my gay ass to a Tea Party rally and starting making out with my boyfriend, nothing makes it ok for anyone to harass or attack me, but nothing should stop anyone from calling me an idiot for doing it either.
Sometimes self-preservation and being the "bigger man" and avoiding conflict is the smarter course of action.
Sometimes self-preservation and being the "bigger man" and avoiding conflict is the smarter course of action.
8
Yes, I read through the thread, and while I would say the driver was in the wrong, it sounds like the cyclers were, too. Also drinking and biking is pretty stupid--I have a coworker who nearly died that way. One of the people involved ended up in the ER with alcohol poisoning--they are lucky there weren't more problems.
9
Sorry, you can use Christmas carols as an excuse to be assholes, but that doesn't change the fact that you are assholes. Oh, I guess that I should say that I'm not a driver - I walk and use public transportation for work, errands, etc. I only drive for camping trips etc. and I bicycle in Europe, where everyone seems to have a bit more sanity.
Last Tuesday, an idiot bicyclist hit me while I was walking in a crosswalk with the green light. I was angry, but this idiotic holiday stresses people to distraction, including those on bicycles. Did I take a photo? Nope. I tried to shrug-off the incident. The guy on the bike didn't bother to apologize - he just sped off.
But the truth is that large groups of maladjusted spoiled brats who ride bikes, take up all lanes with attitudes of moral superiority and entitlement deserve to get smacked in the chops every now and then.
Choke on it, bitches.
Last Tuesday, an idiot bicyclist hit me while I was walking in a crosswalk with the green light. I was angry, but this idiotic holiday stresses people to distraction, including those on bicycles. Did I take a photo? Nope. I tried to shrug-off the incident. The guy on the bike didn't bother to apologize - he just sped off.
But the truth is that large groups of maladjusted spoiled brats who ride bikes, take up all lanes with attitudes of moral superiority and entitlement deserve to get smacked in the chops every now and then.
Choke on it, bitches.
10
Why is drinking and biking not prosecutable as a DUI? I'm not joking. You want the same rights and protections, you take the bad and the limitations as well, in total. Anything less is unreasonable.
11
I think there's an important question here that no one is asking: did the driver make it to his reservation?
12
@7: I completely agree with everything you said. And if you went to a Tea Party rally and got beat on by the asshole bigots there for making out with your boyfriend, I'd tsk-tsk you for not being more careful AND want the asshole bigots to get arrested.
@8: Nobody was drunk at the time of the incident. I super pinky swear. It is thus unrelated to the act of getting run over by an impatient driver.
@8: Nobody was drunk at the time of the incident. I super pinky swear. It is thus unrelated to the act of getting run over by an impatient driver.
13
@10 it absolutely is [at least in California]. Seems kind of over the top, seeing as how a drunk bicyclist is only going to kill himself, but I know at least 1 person here who was convicted of a DUI on a bike.
14
@12 Agreed, so then I tsk tsk these cyclists for being assholes [and setting back their cause] and I absolutely call for the drive to be arrest for assault with a deadly weapon, leaving the scene of an accident, etc.
15
SOOO... Drunk off thier asses and "riding bikes up Pike in a big wide group, taking up all lanes, singing Christmas Carols for all, so fun : )"
What a bunch of fucking pricks.
I'll file this under "they got what they had coming to them".
What a bunch of fucking pricks.
I'll file this under "they got what they had coming to them".
17
I was perfectly sober when I was directing him to pull off to the side into the bus bay to clear traffic and get his info. Had I been drunk, his swerving and brake checking while going 40mph+ up Pike as I clawed onto the hood of his car would definitely been a sobering experience.
So thankful the bastard thought it would be bad idea to run the red light on Boren, like he did on 9th. Didn't even let me clear the car when I got off the hood, he just gunned it once it the light turned green, hitting my right leg as I was walking aside.
So thankful the bastard thought it would be bad idea to run the red light on Boren, like he did on 9th. Didn't even let me clear the car when I got off the hood, he just gunned it once it the light turned green, hitting my right leg as I was walking aside.
18
it's funny how drivers downtown can calmly wait upwards of 5 minutes for streams of pedestrians to cross the road before they make a right or left turn yet going 10-15mph for a short period throws them into a rage where they would endanger someone's life.
19
#3, #4
"Riding Side by Side - Cyclists may ride side by side, but not more than two abreast (RCW 46.61.770). "
But even with two, the "whole lane" could be occupied.
And, there is nothing preventing bicyclists from riding two abreast in all lanes.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/Laws.htm
"Riding Side by Side - Cyclists may ride side by side, but not more than two abreast (RCW 46.61.770). "
But even with two, the "whole lane" could be occupied.
And, there is nothing preventing bicyclists from riding two abreast in all lanes.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/Laws.htm
20
@9 Did you really just suggest that because some dick hit you with his bike that other unrelated bikers taking up a lane deserve to have their lives threatened? Do you feel that way about cars when they almost run you over? Choke on it, bitches, get hit by a semi? Really? You're so big and tough on the internet.
@4 Share the road does not mean you can't take lane or ride slower. Share means both have the right to easy and safe access, not move over cyclists for cars to swipe by.
@4 Share the road does not mean you can't take lane or ride slower. Share means both have the right to easy and safe access, not move over cyclists for cars to swipe by.
23
Without acquitting or indicting anyone (outside of the Rider C situation, which is just messed up), here's what happened, from the perspective of someone who thinks they're only reading half the story:
--Riding bikes up Pike, drinking and taking up all lanes (so fun for you, not for anyone actually trying to, uh, get anywhere)
--Testy driver (because cyclists are never testy or darting in and out of traffic)
--Rider A's wheel taco'd (on purpose?)
--You guys are crazy (I'd use a less flattering adjective)
--Rider B's foot run over (on purpose? did the driver realize they did that?)
--Shit kicked out of door (if I accidentally ran over someone's foot, didn't realize it, and they kicked the shit out of my (fictional) door, well...)
--Destruction of Rider C's seat (sounds like the bike must have already been on the ground in front of the car?)
--Rider C on hood (see above, that's messed up)
Basically, the only part of this I trust is that you should never do that one again.
I'm on neither side here, own a bike and no car, but in this case everyone involved seems like an asshole, with the self-absorbed two-wheelers leading the way.
--Riding bikes up Pike, drinking and taking up all lanes (so fun for you, not for anyone actually trying to, uh, get anywhere)
--Testy driver (because cyclists are never testy or darting in and out of traffic)
--Rider A's wheel taco'd (on purpose?)
--You guys are crazy (I'd use a less flattering adjective)
--Rider B's foot run over (on purpose? did the driver realize they did that?)
--Shit kicked out of door (if I accidentally ran over someone's foot, didn't realize it, and they kicked the shit out of my (fictional) door, well...)
--Destruction of Rider C's seat (sounds like the bike must have already been on the ground in front of the car?)
--Rider C on hood (see above, that's messed up)
Basically, the only part of this I trust is that you should never do that one again.
I'm on neither side here, own a bike and no car, but in this case everyone involved seems like an asshole, with the self-absorbed two-wheelers leading the way.
24
@20 Was it just bikers 'taking up a lane' or was it the usual mess of bikers going every which way, intentionally causing problems with traffic, having 'fun' at the expense of everyone else, including those of us who are stuck on buses during the nonsense ?
You expect drivers to follow the law while you have a lawless party, holding up people in cars, people in buses and sometimes people on foot.
Don't like the reactions? Learn to behave.
You expect drivers to follow the law while you have a lawless party, holding up people in cars, people in buses and sometimes people on foot.
Don't like the reactions? Learn to behave.
25
You weren't there. Everybody can shut the fuck up until they watch a best friend being carried off on the hood of a raging driver's car for two blocks with zero ability to do anything. Fucking ruined my night.
Here's the deal: all the lanes were blocked by us for one block, because one rider didn't realize (off the front) that he was the only one in the far left lane. We (including myself personally) were policing him and yelling to move over to allow a passing lane. Raging driver was hostile from the very beginning, and instead of waiting at the light for the single blocking cyclist to move, he pulled -into- the mass of 40+ bikers. As the event escalated, and he assaulted one of us with malicious intent with his vehicle, we stood in front of his car while calling 911 to prevent him from fleeing the scene like a cowardly asshole. At this point, while his car was stopped with my friend standing a foot in front of his car, he GUNNE HIS ENGINE AND ATTEMPTED TO RUN SOMEONE OVER WHILE LOOKING THEM IN THE EYE. This resulted in said member of said bike club clinging to the hood of a car while the driver drover off at 30+ MPH while -swerving- to attempt to throw him off the car.
The cops told us "we'll write up an incident report and that's probably as far as it'll go since it was so convoluted and you guys have to follow all the rules for bikes". I'm a bit incensed.
And yeah, we drink and ride bikes, like we have for years, without serious problems. Make of that what you will, but for the record, this was literally 15 minutes into the ride, and nobody was fucking drunk. This did not happen because of combining alcohol and bicycles. I was there, you were not. We got drunk later. And how.
tl;dr: Hey derrick, had any sour cream today?
More...
Here's the deal: all the lanes were blocked by us for one block, because one rider didn't realize (off the front) that he was the only one in the far left lane. We (including myself personally) were policing him and yelling to move over to allow a passing lane. Raging driver was hostile from the very beginning, and instead of waiting at the light for the single blocking cyclist to move, he pulled -into- the mass of 40+ bikers. As the event escalated, and he assaulted one of us with malicious intent with his vehicle, we stood in front of his car while calling 911 to prevent him from fleeing the scene like a cowardly asshole. At this point, while his car was stopped with my friend standing a foot in front of his car, he GUNNE HIS ENGINE AND ATTEMPTED TO RUN SOMEONE OVER WHILE LOOKING THEM IN THE EYE. This resulted in said member of said bike club clinging to the hood of a car while the driver drover off at 30+ MPH while -swerving- to attempt to throw him off the car.
The cops told us "we'll write up an incident report and that's probably as far as it'll go since it was so convoluted and you guys have to follow all the rules for bikes". I'm a bit incensed.
And yeah, we drink and ride bikes, like we have for years, without serious problems. Make of that what you will, but for the record, this was literally 15 minutes into the ride, and nobody was fucking drunk. This did not happen because of combining alcohol and bicycles. I was there, you were not. We got drunk later. And how.
tl;dr: Hey derrick, had any sour cream today?
26
It really comes down to how much sympathy you have left over after giving due regard to the two billion-plus people on Earth who suffer every day through no fault of their own. You feel some small twinge of something, sure. But there's just not that much sympathy left after, say, the Afghan girl who got her nose chopped off or the guy who got killed with an axe because he crossed paths with a crazy dude off his meds.
When you go looking for trouble and then trouble finds you, well, dang. Too bad, dudes.
And of course if you've ever been a pedestrian on the Burke Gillman or in a downtown crosswalk, well, then that tiny twinge of sympathy you had left over for the devil-may-care bicyclists might not even exist...
When you go looking for trouble and then trouble finds you, well, dang. Too bad, dudes.
And of course if you've ever been a pedestrian on the Burke Gillman or in a downtown crosswalk, well, then that tiny twinge of sympathy you had left over for the devil-may-care bicyclists might not even exist...
28
I can see why the driver tried to run over the bicyclists. After all, Pike is the only street running in that direction. How else was he supposed to-
Oh wait, I just remembered, downtown is a GRID. He could have just side-stepped one block, like every INTELLIGENT driver does when Critic Mass is blocking traffic.
Or do like I do and ride your scooter. It makes cutting through the mob of bikes much easier/safer. :)
Oh wait, I just remembered, downtown is a GRID. He could have just side-stepped one block, like every INTELLIGENT driver does when Critic Mass is blocking traffic.
Or do like I do and ride your scooter. It makes cutting through the mob of bikes much easier/safer. :)
29
Nice bunch of non sequiturs, FiS. Something worse is always happening somewhere, we can't always talk about those things. Start a thread on your own blog, maybe?
Blaming the victims.
The cyclists on Burke Gilman are just trying to get by, they are not actively attacking you.
You're not even (intentionally) trolling. Incredible.
Blaming the victims.
The cyclists on Burke Gilman are just trying to get by, they are not actively attacking you.
You're not even (intentionally) trolling. Incredible.
30
actually nick, im making a burrito right now and am putting sour cream on it.
also, im so fucking happy that washington state rcw's make it legal to drink and ride bikes.
it's our little loophole that allows for fun
also, im so fucking happy that washington state rcw's make it legal to drink and ride bikes.
it's our little loophole that allows for fun
31
Why do I suspect that the piece of shit in the car is not sitting in a jail cell right now awaiting trial?
32
I had my bike in front of me, perpendicular to the direction of the vehicle, leaning against my body. When the car approached me it started pushing my frame onto my legs as he started rolling over my bike. Not wanting to be wedged onto the ground, I instinctively pulled up my bike and tossed it aside, but apparently not far enough, my seat still being run over. Next thing I know, I'm totally on the hood of the car and I can feel this guy accelerating.
As he's speeding up Pike and trying to toss me off, I thought to myself: "Seriously, you want me to roll off *now*? At least I'm wearing my helmet... How am I going to get off this car without serious injury?
Roll off?
Nope, still a bad idea."
The cop's final statement of "we'll write up an incident report and that's probably as far as it'll go since it was so convoluted and you guys have to follow all the rules for bikes" was rather disappointing. Also, I would have liked to get the guy's information for the damage to my bike, but with his having fled the scene of the incident it wasn't really an option.
As he's speeding up Pike and trying to toss me off, I thought to myself: "Seriously, you want me to roll off *now*? At least I'm wearing my helmet... How am I going to get off this car without serious injury?
Roll off?
Nope, still a bad idea."
The cop's final statement of "we'll write up an incident report and that's probably as far as it'll go since it was so convoluted and you guys have to follow all the rules for bikes" was rather disappointing. Also, I would have liked to get the guy's information for the damage to my bike, but with his having fled the scene of the incident it wasn't really an option.
33
Roll out in front of me on your squirrely little bicycle and I'll run over your little hipster butt.
Juris, you're a whiner.
Juris, you're a whiner.
34
Roll out in front of me on your squirrely little bicycle and I'll run over your little hipster butt.
Juris, you're a whiner.
Juris, you're a whiner.
35
They fucking deserved it. Stop playing in the damn streets. You fucks are so coy. O we were just riding singing. Blah blah blah. If 20 people decided to go walk in the middle of the street, for what ever fucking reason, they would all be ticketed for obstructing traffic. But noooooooo bicyclist Nazis in this damn city get to ride wherever the fuck they want.
Go to hell guys. I hope you all get hit by as many fucking cars as possible.
U have stolen enough traffic lanes to not have to ride in the middle of the street. .
But hey yall were just signing carols right. So no harm.
Next time a bicyclist gets hit I want the driver to just be like "o well I was just signing carols...I had no idea they were there."
After all signing carols is a reason to be an ass and break the law. Right?
Go to hell guys. I hope you all get hit by as many fucking cars as possible.
U have stolen enough traffic lanes to not have to ride in the middle of the street. .
But hey yall were just signing carols right. So no harm.
Next time a bicyclist gets hit I want the driver to just be like "o well I was just signing carols...I had no idea they were there."
After all signing carols is a reason to be an ass and break the law. Right?
36
Hey Nick: Pizza? I'm probably walking up the hill tonight; I'm hella fucking sore and don't feel like riding.
37
Wow, all of a sudden, people really give a shit about obeying all traffic laws! So heartening! I'm sure drivers will now begin driving the speed limit and yielding to pedestrians at every intersection. And maybe, just maaaaybe, not intentionally attacking people with a deadly weapon. Those bicyclists could've delayed traffic for up to a minute for some drivers, execution is too good for 'em. Because /they're/ NAZIs.
38
God, I love Slog comments. Remember, it's okay to wish death for an entire class of human being, so long as more than one of them has inconvenienced you EVER.
39
By the way, the ride continued and we encountered a ton of people in the U District and Wallingford. I'm curious if the people out there who saw us riding and singing considered us to be craven, drunken assholes begging for the mercy of death by vehicular manslaughter.
Come on, Sloggers who ACTUALLY saw us: Grant us mercy or condemn us to death (via anonymous Internet post)!
Come on, Sloggers who ACTUALLY saw us: Grant us mercy or condemn us to death (via anonymous Internet post)!
40
This group is the same bunch of jerks that organize Critical Mass every Friday.
They are a bunch of inconsiderate, overzealous drunks on bikes. Their sole purpose in life to make people thing riding your bike like an asshole is acceptable.
Fuck that. You want to ride your bike in traffic? Fine. Obey the laws. Break the laws (impeding traffic) and don't come whining to the cops when you get your ass beat.
What a bunch of pussies.
They are a bunch of inconsiderate, overzealous drunks on bikes. Their sole purpose in life to make people thing riding your bike like an asshole is acceptable.
Fuck that. You want to ride your bike in traffic? Fine. Obey the laws. Break the laws (impeding traffic) and don't come whining to the cops when you get your ass beat.
What a bunch of pussies.
41
To be serious for a sec: What would a just resolution of that situation look like to y'all? Is anyone seriously saying that the driver of that car shouldn't be in jail? Perhaps some of the bicyclists would be ticketed. Not the same thing, though, is it?
42
@40 You... really have no fucking idea what you're talking about, do you? What makes you think these guys are related to Critical Mass AT ALL? The fact that they ride bikes? By that logic, a lot of people who post comments on the Internet are inbred morons, so YOU MUST BE ONE TOO. (And me as well.)
I'm also loving, once again, how it's okay to run over and murder people so long as one of them made you angry once. Because really, nobody here has ANY evidence whatsoever that the cyclists were drunk OR breaking the law. You're just assuming that they were zipping in and out of traffic, flipping off babies, and burning crosses.
I'm also loving, once again, how it's okay to run over and murder people so long as one of them made you angry once. Because really, nobody here has ANY evidence whatsoever that the cyclists were drunk OR breaking the law. You're just assuming that they were zipping in and out of traffic, flipping off babies, and burning crosses.
43
Nice sock puppet there, Rake. We truly respect your opinion now, especially considering all the effort it took to rewrite it an Nth time after making a brand new account! Gold star!
So, instead of reporting a crime / "whining to the cops"... they should, what, shoot the driver?
THIS IS THE CONSIDERED DISCOURSE I"VE BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL MY LIFE. I've often been told to "go fuck myself with a rake", but say yes and I won't have to marry me, rake! Marry me!
FWIW, I've never gone on a .83 ride. Some of us here ride bikes on our own, and would like it if violent drivers (who break the law) were in jail, not threatening us on the street.
So, instead of reporting a crime / "whining to the cops"... they should, what, shoot the driver?
THIS IS THE CONSIDERED DISCOURSE I"VE BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL MY LIFE. I've often been told to "go fuck myself with a rake", but say yes and I won't have to marry me, rake! Marry me!
FWIW, I've never gone on a .83 ride. Some of us here ride bikes on our own, and would like it if violent drivers (who break the law) were in jail, not threatening us on the street.
44
Go read the website. Sounds like some of their "members" don't support this groups actions last night.
I hope the Seattle Police take a look at www.point83.com.
Maybe the King County Sheriff's Department needs to send some undercover officers out on a Critical Mass ride again.
How'd that work out last time?
I hope the Seattle Police take a look at www.point83.com.
Maybe the King County Sheriff's Department needs to send some undercover officers out on a Critical Mass ride again.
How'd that work out last time?
45
Jon,
I don't know who you think you're fooling cause if you read their website you can find such gems as this:
"It's a shame that we had the altercation with the car jerk, which sort of dominated the evening. I think that he was an asshole that should get arrested, but I also think that we need to do a much better job of not giving people the excuse to be assholes to us. ":
JSMG sounds reasonable. Too bad you and the rest of the jerks last night aren't listening to him. He at least has the balls to admit a certain amount of guilt for what happened last night.
Whatever happens, the police will be able to paint a more realistic picture of what REALLY happened last night by reading www.point83.com. As soon as that happens I expect someone to get charged for making false claims on a police report.
Probably be a good idea to start talking to a lawyer now.
I don't know who you think you're fooling cause if you read their website you can find such gems as this:
"It's a shame that we had the altercation with the car jerk, which sort of dominated the evening. I think that he was an asshole that should get arrested, but I also think that we need to do a much better job of not giving people the excuse to be assholes to us. ":
JSMG sounds reasonable. Too bad you and the rest of the jerks last night aren't listening to him. He at least has the balls to admit a certain amount of guilt for what happened last night.
Whatever happens, the police will be able to paint a more realistic picture of what REALLY happened last night by reading www.point83.com. As soon as that happens I expect someone to get charged for making false claims on a police report.
Probably be a good idea to start talking to a lawyer now.
46
@32 So you're just riding along minding your own business and BOOM you're on the hood of this guys car?
Oh wait, no, you were perpendicular to the car. In front of him, facing him from the hood. What are you, a cop? What right did you have to impede traffic? You and your drunk fucking friends.
You guys are a bunch of Critical mAssholes. You have to have a permit to stop traffic in this city, or be a cop. You're just a confrontational little shit who's crying because your bicycle got damaged when you threw it under his car. He didn't do what you told him to do, and why should he? Good for him!
I want to buy this guy a beer.
Oh wait, no, you were perpendicular to the car. In front of him, facing him from the hood. What are you, a cop? What right did you have to impede traffic? You and your drunk fucking friends.
You guys are a bunch of Critical mAssholes. You have to have a permit to stop traffic in this city, or be a cop. You're just a confrontational little shit who's crying because your bicycle got damaged when you threw it under his car. He didn't do what you told him to do, and why should he? Good for him!
I want to buy this guy a beer.
47
At first I thought Rider C made the driver look like an asshole. Then I read Rojo's comment. Not so much anymore.
Cop got it right. Nothing much SHOULD happen. Riders were dicks. Driver was a dick. Everybody in the situation was a dick. Even If one had died, it'd be because they were being a dick. Sorry, dicks. You be a dick, you get fucked sometimes.
Take some personal fucking responsibility for once in your dick life and move on.
Cop got it right. Nothing much SHOULD happen. Riders were dicks. Driver was a dick. Everybody in the situation was a dick. Even If one had died, it'd be because they were being a dick. Sorry, dicks. You be a dick, you get fucked sometimes.
Take some personal fucking responsibility for once in your dick life and move on.
48
Holden: You're driving down the street. Ahead of you a group of bicyclists is singing Christmas carols.
Leon: Is this the test now?
Holden: Yes. You can't get around them. They're taking up the whole lane.
Leon: What one?
Holden: What?
Leon: What street?
Holden: It doesn't make any difference what street, it's completely hypothetical. Let's say Pine Street.
Leon: But how come I'd be there?
Holden: Maybe you're fed up, maybe you want to be by yourself, who knows? You swerve through the bicyclists.
Leon: What do you mean I swerve through the bicyclists?
Holden: I mean, you swerve through the bicyclists. They're just questions, Leon. In answer to your query, they're written down for me. It's a test, designed to provoke an emotional response. Shall we continue? Describe in single words, only the good things that come in to your mind about: your mother.
Leon: My mother?
Holden: Yeah.
Leon: Let me tell you about my mother. [shoots Holden]
Leon: Is this the test now?
Holden: Yes. You can't get around them. They're taking up the whole lane.
Leon: What one?
Holden: What?
Leon: What street?
Holden: It doesn't make any difference what street, it's completely hypothetical. Let's say Pine Street.
Leon: But how come I'd be there?
Holden: Maybe you're fed up, maybe you want to be by yourself, who knows? You swerve through the bicyclists.
Leon: What do you mean I swerve through the bicyclists?
Holden: I mean, you swerve through the bicyclists. They're just questions, Leon. In answer to your query, they're written down for me. It's a test, designed to provoke an emotional response. Shall we continue? Describe in single words, only the good things that come in to your mind about: your mother.
Leon: My mother?
Holden: Yeah.
Leon: Let me tell you about my mother. [shoots Holden]
49
@45 Err, I *AM* JSMG. The cyclists should have done better. The driver should be in jail.
But thanks for listening to me!
But thanks for listening to me!
52
@24 At the expense of everyone else? Was your life in danger on that bus? Were you so inconvenienced that it was worth being driven to violence? No?
Listen, I'm not a cyclist, I'm a driver from the everybody-drives-everywhere state of Michigan. I used to live in Portland where ninja cyclists would ride around on their fixies in all black with no lights and no helmet at dusk, 30+ groups of people would ride around in the night bar crawling, and people would haul canoes off the back of their bikes taking an entire lane on a skinny two way road. I had to learn to slow down, to look and double look, and that sometimes a crazy ass would ignore all lights and flash across traffic. But I never once got angry. Why? Because what REALLY sucked was Portland drivers who are slow and don't use blinkers and don't know how to merge or use the left lane. That is LIFE THREATENINGLY DANGEROUS. All those cyclists did was slow me down or give me a little scare, but they never once deserved a violent reaction as their use of the road, lawless or not, was never at the expense of everyone else's safety. My reaction was always in relation to our situation and a 150lb man on a 30lb bicycle swerving deserves little reaction from someone in a 2 ton car.
Listen, I'm not a cyclist, I'm a driver from the everybody-drives-everywhere state of Michigan. I used to live in Portland where ninja cyclists would ride around on their fixies in all black with no lights and no helmet at dusk, 30+ groups of people would ride around in the night bar crawling, and people would haul canoes off the back of their bikes taking an entire lane on a skinny two way road. I had to learn to slow down, to look and double look, and that sometimes a crazy ass would ignore all lights and flash across traffic. But I never once got angry. Why? Because what REALLY sucked was Portland drivers who are slow and don't use blinkers and don't know how to merge or use the left lane. That is LIFE THREATENINGLY DANGEROUS. All those cyclists did was slow me down or give me a little scare, but they never once deserved a violent reaction as their use of the road, lawless or not, was never at the expense of everyone else's safety. My reaction was always in relation to our situation and a 150lb man on a 30lb bicycle swerving deserves little reaction from someone in a 2 ton car.
53
I was more kinda standing like fifteen feet in front of his car, gesturing towards the empty bus bay. Dude was blocking traffic and I, in a very visible way, was suggesting he clear it off to the side. I was minding the business of my friends which had just been hit and that of the driver, with consideration to the vehicles waiting behind everyone. Next time, I'll just bugger off and let everyone just chill in the middle of the road until they finish doing their exchange information bit.
54
Haha, wow. Yes, we have already read the linked thread, looks like you're late to the party again. It was 15 minutes in and they start at WLC. Nobody was drunk yet. You fail to specify what we aren't listening to. JSMG wishes the altercation had not taken place, which is not the same as "guilt" the attack on the group was completely unwarranted. No matter what is happening on the road, intentionally driving your car into someone is not allowed. Pretty basic!
Clearly, the Police don't care / don't have the man-power to follow up on crimes unless someone is dead.
Don't bring this weak-ass trolling and go crying to cops when you get your ass beat in comments.
Maybe if we'd voted in an income tax, there'd be funds? (please derail, please derail, please derail)
Clearly, the Police don't care / don't have the man-power to follow up on crimes unless someone is dead.
Don't bring this weak-ass trolling and go crying to cops when you get your ass beat in comments.
Maybe if we'd voted in an income tax, there'd be funds? (please derail, please derail, please derail)
55
I was also periodically making the "pull off to side" gesture while on the hood of the car.
The dude seriously averse to pulling over.
The dude seriously averse to pulling over.
56
@19
'"Riding Side by Side - Cyclists may ride side by side, but not more than two abreast (RCW 46.61.770). "
But even with two, the "whole lane" could be occupied.
And, there is nothing preventing bicyclists from riding two abreast in all lanes.'
yeah, there are lots of ways to be an obnoxious jerk well within the confines of the law, but that doesn't mean you should.
I'm all for chaotic, random bouts of unregulated fun in the streets, and this drunken pack of carolers also sounds like something i would have enjoyed seeing and/or participating in, but it's the ass end of rush hour in DOWNTOWN. for the love of fuck, have some mercy and let people who aren't as holly jolly as you get home.
'"Riding Side by Side - Cyclists may ride side by side, but not more than two abreast (RCW 46.61.770). "
But even with two, the "whole lane" could be occupied.
And, there is nothing preventing bicyclists from riding two abreast in all lanes.'
yeah, there are lots of ways to be an obnoxious jerk well within the confines of the law, but that doesn't mean you should.
I'm all for chaotic, random bouts of unregulated fun in the streets, and this drunken pack of carolers also sounds like something i would have enjoyed seeing and/or participating in, but it's the ass end of rush hour in DOWNTOWN. for the love of fuck, have some mercy and let people who aren't as holly jolly as you get home.
57
So you guys succeeded at being dicks, ruined what looked like was a fun night on bikes, had one guy end up in the hospital, one foot get ran over, 2 bikes damaged and had to deal with the cops?
Sounds like a fun group to ride with.
When are you riding next? Me and my buddies would love to come watch this all happen again. And again. And again.
Let me know if you need an escort, I drive Prius.
Sounds like a fun group to ride with.
When are you riding next? Me and my buddies would love to come watch this all happen again. And again. And again.
Let me know if you need an escort, I drive Prius.
58
oh, and just to make myself clear, i think the driver was much more in the wrong in this situation. going on a violent rampage is not an appropriate response to being inconvenienced and the SPD should certainly be a little more concerned considering how much vehicular assault was going on there.
59
@57 Rake, I cordially invite you out to a ride. I'll make sure you get a loaner bike and everything. You can decide for yourself if we're all miscreants deserving of death once you've actually, you know... MET US.
Or, wait... should I judge you by everyone who ever drove a car? Jesus, why do you hate pedestrians so much?
Or, wait... should I judge you by everyone who ever drove a car? Jesus, why do you hate pedestrians so much?
60
"Rush hour" is sort of an oxymoron, though, innit? Nobody expects to get anywhere in a hurry at those hours, especially downtown.
61
See all of the anti-bike hatred on this site? See the rage out of that driver? Make no mistake - it's CM's fault. Critical Mass, who moronic idea of raising biker awareness is to piss drivers the fuck off.
Fuck you, assholes - and I say that as a bicyclist who hasn't used his car for 6 months. Thanks for making drivers hate ME because I ride a bike. Thanks for making my commute more dangerous.
I have no sympathy for any of you. I wish the driver would have taken out your whole lot. My only regret would be if someone didn't get it on video, because I'd watch that loop for hours.
Fuck you, assholes - and I say that as a bicyclist who hasn't used his car for 6 months. Thanks for making drivers hate ME because I ride a bike. Thanks for making my commute more dangerous.
I have no sympathy for any of you. I wish the driver would have taken out your whole lot. My only regret would be if someone didn't get it on video, because I'd watch that loop for hours.
62
Jon,
Thanks, but no thanks. I ride a bike too, just not with people who think the world owes them a favor.
I think I'll stick with Cascade. They, at least, hold their riders accountable by making everyone sign a release.
Chilly Hilly is in February, you should come ride that. Oh wait, I just read about .83 likes to steal riders/money from Cascade by holding their own "ride" on that same day.
Real nice group of friends you have over there. Really doing great work expanding the city's positive view of alternative transportation.
Thanks, but no thanks. I ride a bike too, just not with people who think the world owes them a favor.
I think I'll stick with Cascade. They, at least, hold their riders accountable by making everyone sign a release.
Chilly Hilly is in February, you should come ride that. Oh wait, I just read about .83 likes to steal riders/money from Cascade by holding their own "ride" on that same day.
Real nice group of friends you have over there. Really doing great work expanding the city's positive view of alternative transportation.
63
I'm incensed. I lead a .83 ride on Tuesday, won a damn 3 mile race, drank a couple of beers, led folks to some sweet Christmas lights, and do I get a SLOG writeup? Do I get Internet-sued? Nooo.
64
@57 I drove a hybrid to the doctor's office this morning. Yay for decreasing our carbon footprint!
65
61: you're really basing your arguments off of a stretch there. point83 doesn't organize critical mass. it isn't critical mass. it's just a group of people that ride every thursday evening exploring the city and having a good time via bicycle. we watch out for each other, we're cyclists. we ride all year, every day, all over town.
basically, you're hating on people EXACTLY LIKE YOU.
you're real smart.
basically, you're hating on people EXACTLY LIKE YOU.
you're real smart.
66
Hell, this whole incident and it's aftermath, especially the thread of comments, should be immortalized in a Saturday Night Live sketch or, maybe, someday people will look back at this as we now view the Boston Tea Party? the Boston Massacre? Rollicking Fun All-Round !!!
67
Standing in front of an angry driver who just hit someone isn't a great idea.
I once tried that with a bum on a bike who stole $20 from me. After he threatened to stab me I realized I wasn't some crime-fighting superhero and got out of his damn way.
Now you have learned that lesson too.
I once tried that with a bum on a bike who stole $20 from me. After he threatened to stab me I realized I wasn't some crime-fighting superhero and got out of his damn way.
Now you have learned that lesson too.
69
I'd be willing to bet a shiny nickel that "Rake" is the same as at least one other commenter in this thread.
Nice job hiding your activity, Rake! Still obvious you created your account just now for this thread, tho.
FL, all I see is trolling and The Stranger editors rolling around in a pile of pagehits. Yes, I AM sporting a little chub, thank you for noticing!
RAAAAKE! Post harder, I can hardly feel it. First you're calling people pussies for going to the cops, then threatening to call the cops, claiming you have "buddies", claiming you own a car ("a prius, that'll steam 'em"), claiming you ride a bike with a different Seattle club. Hilarious. It's too bad you bothered making an account, shoulda stuck with new nicks for each post.
Nice job hiding your activity, Rake! Still obvious you created your account just now for this thread, tho.
FL, all I see is trolling and The Stranger editors rolling around in a pile of pagehits. Yes, I AM sporting a little chub, thank you for noticing!
RAAAAKE! Post harder, I can hardly feel it. First you're calling people pussies for going to the cops, then threatening to call the cops, claiming you have "buddies", claiming you own a car ("a prius, that'll steam 'em"), claiming you ride a bike with a different Seattle club. Hilarious. It's too bad you bothered making an account, shoulda stuck with new nicks for each post.
70
@65 - Oh - my mistake. I assumed since they employed the same stupid tactics it was the same stupid group.
Carry on.
Carry on.
71
Most of the time, drivers pull off to the side and ask if you're okay. I wasn't exactly expecting the reaction I got; Seattle is full of overly-courteous, this guy is not one of them.
72
If I am a troll, then these "geniuses" who ride with .83 are the most easily duped bunch of retards.
I'm off to buy a new hat, have fun on the internet.
I'm off to buy a new hat, have fun on the internet.
76
Bicyclists taking up the whole street AND singing christmas music? in that case, i must support the driver of the car.
77
stranger slog post rule #1:
any post by dan savage, about bicycles, or about cops behaving badly instantly garners 100+ responses, and as a by product also skyrockets the page counts, which pays the bills around here. so expect more.
stranger slog post rule #2
lindy west is a bit wacky. don't stick it in crazy, but definitely keep crazy on staff as a writer
stranger slog post rule #3
derrickito is fucking hungry and will now go eat his weight in cheese nips
any post by dan savage, about bicycles, or about cops behaving badly instantly garners 100+ responses, and as a by product also skyrockets the page counts, which pays the bills around here. so expect more.
stranger slog post rule #2
lindy west is a bit wacky. don't stick it in crazy, but definitely keep crazy on staff as a writer
stranger slog post rule #3
derrickito is fucking hungry and will now go eat his weight in cheese nips
78
No, don't go! Oh shit, Rake's gone, guys! He just up and left! Fuck, did anyone get his number? Such a shame, to leave before making even one coherent point. After all the trouble of registering a new account! He needed some backup from his "buddies", but they were too busy trolling the bus thread, aww.
80
OMG, re post rule #3, please tuck your bedding in tightly tonight, otherwise you might inadvertently gas yourself to death. Cheese nips == Mt. St. Helens-style searing-hot death farts. Ass hairs will all be laid down radially away from the blast.
81
I just found out the owner of Critical Mass is a certified Questionland Expert, so I will be boycotting the Stranger, Slog, LineOut, and Questionland and all their contributors and commenters, since they are obviously all moronic assholes who make my commute more dangerous.
But first, I need to know what snack Derrick is eating next.
But first, I need to know what snack Derrick is eating next.
83
im eating microwave bean/beef burritos now. you can find them in the frozen section of fred meyer. 10 for about 3 dollars.
84
Isn't it time for some asshole on a Dixie with no helmet to kill themselves in Seattle? I really enjoy that shit.
85
If you think that was a fun ride, consider:
The driver you started in on could have been worse - like that k2 smoker who ran over people at the Market. Your luck of the draw.
And under the circumstances, the driver you got could have very reasonably perceived a threat to his safety, and left the scene as expeditiously as possible -- even if doing so threatened one or more of the cyclists.
The driver you started in on could have been worse - like that k2 smoker who ran over people at the Market. Your luck of the draw.
And under the circumstances, the driver you got could have very reasonably perceived a threat to his safety, and left the scene as expeditiously as possible -- even if doing so threatened one or more of the cyclists.
86
Bunch of dickfaces. Serves them right. Also, my own tale of woe: Since I walk home every night from work (3 miles), and it's dark when I leave, I wear reflective bands and have flashing lights on my backpack, because many of the streets I cross are poorly lit. And on Tuesday, walking home, minding my own business, a cyclist rode past me, then turned around, and actually said to me: "Why are you wearing those lights?" I responded, it's dark and I'm careful, but I would like to make it home alive. And he went on this big diatribe that *I* was making it difficult for cyclists, and confusing drivers with my lights, and that cyclists are really the most important thing in the world, and I should take them off. Seriously. We argued, and this dick actually got off his bike and was going to hit me. I calmed the situation down, because I'm a lover, not a fighter, but his attitude crystalized for me the Seattle cyclist - big fucking self-centered aggressive douchenozzle. Fuck all of them. FUCK THEM.
87
ronk, no. that's not reasonable.
when you drive into a group of people, then the people do whatever they can to stop you, you're not being reasonable by driving over them to get away, you're committing a felony.
when you drive into a group of people, then the people do whatever they can to stop you, you're not being reasonable by driving over them to get away, you're committing a felony.
89
Hey RL,
Lemme break it down for: That's like peeing in the pool, taking a drink and then saying "See, I told you it tastes like pee!"
Lemme break it down for: That's like peeing in the pool, taking a drink and then saying "See, I told you it tastes like pee!"
90
Sounds like the cyclists were begging for an incident by getting drunk and taking to the streets in their normal Critical Mass like fashion, which is to take up the entire road and block all opposing traffic. A group with members who are not shy to key your car or knife your tire. Fucking assholes.
91
Gotta say, I'm pretty shocked by a lot of the comments on this thread: You guys honestly believe that an acceptable response to being annoyed by cyclists taking up the road is attempted murder? Really, there is no other term for driving a car into a group of cyclists, or scooping up a rider on the hood of one's car and speeding off. Christ. If you're pissed off about some cyclists not following the rules, call the fucking police and have them ticketed, don't try to kill them. What part of "don't try to kill people" is stumping everyone?
92
Imagine if John Williams rode a bike?
These guys are lucky Ian Burk didn't show up.
"DROP THE BIKE!" DROP IT NOW!"
But hey, then they could just waste another evening putting up "ghost bike memorials" and railing against the fucking police.
Nope. Now that it suits them, they'll scream for help from the cops.
What a bunch of self-entitled, privileged little girls.
These guys are lucky Ian Burk didn't show up.
"DROP THE BIKE!" DROP IT NOW!"
But hey, then they could just waste another evening putting up "ghost bike memorials" and railing against the fucking police.
Nope. Now that it suits them, they'll scream for help from the cops.
What a bunch of self-entitled, privileged little girls.
93
After almost getting run down numerous times by asshole bikers I'm very anti-bike. They are more holier-than-thou than car drivers. I actually stay at home more because I'm frightened to be on the streets. Bikers routinely run lights, go against one way signs, don't stop at stop signs, etc. They make it very dangerous to walk around the city. And they're on the sidewalks! You're not even safe there! Even if the driver was being a jerk, I'm sorry to say I wouldn't have cared if a biker got killed. Maybe once they start getting killed and hurt they'll be more respectful and actually obey the laws.
94
Taking up all the lanes of a road is BULLSHIT.
I absolutely HATE it when *I* can't get where *I* want to go without having to slow down because OTHER PEOPLE exist.
I fucking HATE IT when a street is all filled up with OTHER CARS that are stopped and in MY way.
I would totally not have any of these problems if ASSHOLES weren't so goddamn inconsiderate by BEING ALIVE and wanting to MOVE AROUND.
I absolutely HATE it when *I* can't get where *I* want to go without having to slow down because OTHER PEOPLE exist.
I fucking HATE IT when a street is all filled up with OTHER CARS that are stopped and in MY way.
I would totally not have any of these problems if ASSHOLES weren't so goddamn inconsiderate by BEING ALIVE and wanting to MOVE AROUND.
95
@ 87 -- The cyclists' own account gives abundant reason for the driver to fear for his safety. It does nto give any explanation of how Rider A's wheel came into position to be taco'd, or how Rider B's foot came into position to be run over, or how Rider C's seat came to be facing the motorist's wheel, or how Rider C ended up on the hood (sorry, @91, "scooped" doesn't cut it).
Police and prosecutors have the ID's, they'll have the statements, they also have pretty damn good bullshit detectors.
Police and prosecutors have the ID's, they'll have the statements, they also have pretty damn good bullshit detectors.
96
road rage projected onto the internet . . . fascinating . . .
most of you sound like pretty reasonable people . . . really reasonable . . . really really reasonable . . .
can you all please stay on the internet and off the roads? i'd like to continue living . . .
most of you sound like pretty reasonable people . . . really reasonable . . . really really reasonable . . .
can you all please stay on the internet and off the roads? i'd like to continue living . . .
97
I like how people here think being slightly inconvenienced justifies vehicular assault. It's cute.
98
Thank you, @94, for making my point for me. Such unabashed assholery is a wonder to behold.
And I retract my apology for confusing this group with Critical Mass. Point83 (or whatever-the-fuck) is clearly the same fucking group of unrepentant douchebags.
And to @65 (Derrickito). This group is nothing like me. I'm an asshole, absolutely, but I'll be the first to admit that you guys are out of my league.
And I retract my apology for confusing this group with Critical Mass. Point83 (or whatever-the-fuck) is clearly the same fucking group of unrepentant douchebags.
And to @65 (Derrickito). This group is nothing like me. I'm an asshole, absolutely, but I'll be the first to admit that you guys are out of my league.
99
Oh we were having just so much fun taking over all the lanes and fucking with those assholes in the cars, and really enjoying watching them get pissed because they had to drive 10 miles an hour, and then one of those assholes snapped and decided he was going to get around us anyway, even though we kept making sure he couldn't. It's just not fair. People should engage in road rage only against other people in cars, not against us innocent little bike riders.
Get a clue, people. Going out on 30 lb bicycles to purposely piss off people driving 2 ton automobiles is pretty much like showing up at a gunfight armed only with a knife. The only thing that it has going for it is that it helps cleanse the gene pool.
Get a clue, people. Going out on 30 lb bicycles to purposely piss off people driving 2 ton automobiles is pretty much like showing up at a gunfight armed only with a knife. The only thing that it has going for it is that it helps cleanse the gene pool.
100
you have the wrong idea. that wasn't anyones intent. as i said before, it's not critical mass, it's just a bunch of bike people that ride together once a week. just took the group a bit longer to merge into one lane than that guy in a car liked, and he started running over bikes. the bikes were all in the process of moving into one lane when the driver drove into that one lane hitting several people. then drove off instead of stopping at the scene of his accident.
the logic being used in this thread is similar to someone getting mad about i5 traffic blocking their way home, and deciding that it was ok to suddenly blow up cars with a rocket propelled grenade. the funny thing is, everyone here thinks that blowing up random peoples cars with rocket propelled grenades is ok and somehow perfectly justifiable.
the logic being used in this thread is similar to someone getting mad about i5 traffic blocking their way home, and deciding that it was ok to suddenly blow up cars with a rocket propelled grenade. the funny thing is, everyone here thinks that blowing up random peoples cars with rocket propelled grenades is ok and somehow perfectly justifiable.
102
@38: Yep.
I really worry when people take the time to even pretend that they actually want (for example) people on bikes behaving in an irritating, ill-advised manner to...be killed. And then throw in the "Nazi" comparison. Christ wept.
Given the amount of anonymous bile and hatred that shows up on the internet every day, I'm not sure if it's a safety valve preventing workplace shootings, or an enabling precursor.
I really worry when people take the time to even pretend that they actually want (for example) people on bikes behaving in an irritating, ill-advised manner to...be killed. And then throw in the "Nazi" comparison. Christ wept.
Given the amount of anonymous bile and hatred that shows up on the internet every day, I'm not sure if it's a safety valve preventing workplace shootings, or an enabling precursor.
103
What every father wants is to know their daughter rides with a group of cyclists that posts pictures of donkey porn on the internet.
Stay classy .83.
Stay classy .83.
104
@91, I'm with you (as always). This thread is putrid. The proper response to minor road inconveniences is not attempted murder. The driver is seriously in the wrong. But the commenters here are even worse. Fortunately they are just comments, not actual road behavior, but still. But then, most of the names saying the worst stuff aren't regular commenters. Or if they are, they're the deliberately inflammatory kind.
But man, is that some holiday stress I see lashing out, or what? Seems like every thread is getting the GRRRR GGRRRR DIE ASSHOLES DIE treatment these days.
But man, is that some holiday stress I see lashing out, or what? Seems like every thread is getting the GRRRR GGRRRR DIE ASSHOLES DIE treatment these days.
105
I have a suggestion for a modest solution to this problem: bicyclists should get concealed weapon permits. The next time your life is in danger by the aggressive actions of a motorist, shoot them in self-defense.
There! Problem solved. I'm sure that everyone here in Slog will agree that this is really the best solution, since the appropriate response to most problems is to murder the person causing you the problem. With my solution, drivers can continue trying to defensively kill bicyclists that inconvenience them, and bicyclists can defensively kill motorists who are trying to kill them.
SLOG: "Where Sociopaths Come to Relax"
There! Problem solved. I'm sure that everyone here in Slog will agree that this is really the best solution, since the appropriate response to most problems is to murder the person causing you the problem. With my solution, drivers can continue trying to defensively kill bicyclists that inconvenience them, and bicyclists can defensively kill motorists who are trying to kill them.
SLOG: "Where Sociopaths Come to Relax"
106
Calling this attempted murder with a car seems a bit off. It sounds like the driver tried to whip around and/or through in an unsafe fashion, not like he specifically attempted to run down a few bicyclists (not that that's a good thing either).
I'm having a hard time picturing anybody involved on either side of this being in their right mind and not stupid, though when you're behind the wheel of a car you can cause a lot more damage than when you're behind the wheel of a bike
I'm having a hard time picturing anybody involved on either side of this being in their right mind and not stupid, though when you're behind the wheel of a car you can cause a lot more damage than when you're behind the wheel of a bike
109
@106
Not that I was there or anything, but I think driving down a street with a human being on your hood while swerving in an attempt to "shake them" like in an action movie is a pretty apt way to attempt murder. A normal, non-hateful person would stop the car and let the human being off before driving off to get wasted and then drink and drive.
Not that I was there or anything, but I think driving down a street with a human being on your hood while swerving in an attempt to "shake them" like in an action movie is a pretty apt way to attempt murder. A normal, non-hateful person would stop the car and let the human being off before driving off to get wasted and then drink and drive.
111
@108
if you had time to toss your bike to one side how did you not have time to move yourself out of the way? not saying i agree with the actions of the driver but after reading your side above: you feel the car about to wedge the bike between you and it, you somehow pull this bike that's being pressed against your body from, what i assume, is nearly under the car, and toss it aside. why couldn't you move your body too?
as a pedestrian, when cars try to run me down (with a little wave from the driver - ever get that? the, "hey, i saw you and am in my own little world and know you could have been killed but i was just too important to stop for 5 seconds while you crossed the street in the marked intersection so here's a little hand gesture" wave?) i jump back or get out of the way as quick as i can. what i don't do is try and live out my fantasy of being a cop by standing in front of a vehicle.
standing in front of a car with a *clearly* unstable person behind the wheel is a recipe for having your life taken. something you could have avoided by taking a few seconds to think. just sayin'.
p.s. - driver turned himself in a the ea…
if you had time to toss your bike to one side how did you not have time to move yourself out of the way? not saying i agree with the actions of the driver but after reading your side above: you feel the car about to wedge the bike between you and it, you somehow pull this bike that's being pressed against your body from, what i assume, is nearly under the car, and toss it aside. why couldn't you move your body too?
as a pedestrian, when cars try to run me down (with a little wave from the driver - ever get that? the, "hey, i saw you and am in my own little world and know you could have been killed but i was just too important to stop for 5 seconds while you crossed the street in the marked intersection so here's a little hand gesture" wave?) i jump back or get out of the way as quick as i can. what i don't do is try and live out my fantasy of being a cop by standing in front of a vehicle.
standing in front of a car with a *clearly* unstable person behind the wheel is a recipe for having your life taken. something you could have avoided by taking a few seconds to think. just sayin'.
p.s. - driver turned himself in a the ea…
112
Yeah, true Fnarf, there is a lot of lashing out right now...perhaps too much Visa and not enough egg nog...the eternal irony of the holidays.
@106 No, calling it attempted murder is not "a bit off." It would be a bit off if one enraged cyclist had tried to pass another. You have a responsibility as a driver to not hit the squishy things that aren't in cars. Would your "a bit off" stand if the enraged driver had been attempting to pass a group of pre-school kids on their way to the playground? Without being disrespectful to the cyclists, we have something similar happen here every year where I live, just west of Calgary: Cattle drives. Cowboys on horses and quads, trying to guide a bunch of cows down the road from one pasture to another. You usually get stuck behind them when you're running late already, of course. I can assure you, NO ONE tries to run over the cows, or wants to kill them. You roll your eyes, pull out your phone and tell your kid to sit tight, as you're stuck behind a bunch of freakin' cows. End of story. No death, just a delay in your busy life. Geez, put an iPod in your car and crank the tunes and chill out, and please don't visit Canada until you learn how to do that.
@106 No, calling it attempted murder is not "a bit off." It would be a bit off if one enraged cyclist had tried to pass another. You have a responsibility as a driver to not hit the squishy things that aren't in cars. Would your "a bit off" stand if the enraged driver had been attempting to pass a group of pre-school kids on their way to the playground? Without being disrespectful to the cyclists, we have something similar happen here every year where I live, just west of Calgary: Cattle drives. Cowboys on horses and quads, trying to guide a bunch of cows down the road from one pasture to another. You usually get stuck behind them when you're running late already, of course. I can assure you, NO ONE tries to run over the cows, or wants to kill them. You roll your eyes, pull out your phone and tell your kid to sit tight, as you're stuck behind a bunch of freakin' cows. End of story. No death, just a delay in your busy life. Geez, put an iPod in your car and crank the tunes and chill out, and please don't visit Canada until you learn how to do that.
115
Grrr. Everyone but me is in the wrong. Especially that one with the big brown eyes chewing on something. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT, BUSTER?
116
@111 Let's recap. Rider A had just been rear ended and rider B's foot was either currently trapped under the left front wheel or had just been run over while the driver was attempting to flee the scene of the rear-ending accident. Rider C was directing him to the fact that it was illegal to leave scene A and/or scene B and he should pull over into the bus stop and wait for the police.
Maybe standing directly in front isn't the best location to issue such a directive to someone that thinks it's okay to play GTA in the streets, but hindsight is always 20/20.
Maybe standing directly in front isn't the best location to issue such a directive to someone that thinks it's okay to play GTA in the streets, but hindsight is always 20/20.
117
In the case of the Pike Place incident, the car driver was most likely the cause of the damage, yes. Calling it "attempted murder" seems a bit forced. Vehicular assault seems to cover it, but will not allow for the drama queenery the cycling community is famous for, so tears will be shed, garments will be torn.
Just last night a cyclist was badly injured in Cap Hill, and while I don't know any of the facts in that case, I'm not jumping to the conclusion that the car's driver was at fault. I've had swerving cyclists drive back and forth in front of my car for blocks and blocks in Seattle. I've had cyclists literally hit my car with their bikes and ride off, after shouting at ME- stopped legally at a stop light in one case, parked in another instance. Even yesterday I watched as a cyclist ignored a red light on Broadway at 11:30 AM and cross through traffic, then up onto the sidewalk.
Point is, cyclists want to be thought of as vehicles, and given the space and right of way that cars enjoy. However, they also want to ignore those vehicular restrictions whenever it suits them to do so. Every situation is different and each altercation must be investigated independently of all others.
Just last night a cyclist was badly injured in Cap Hill, and while I don't know any of the facts in that case, I'm not jumping to the conclusion that the car's driver was at fault. I've had swerving cyclists drive back and forth in front of my car for blocks and blocks in Seattle. I've had cyclists literally hit my car with their bikes and ride off, after shouting at ME- stopped legally at a stop light in one case, parked in another instance. Even yesterday I watched as a cyclist ignored a red light on Broadway at 11:30 AM and cross through traffic, then up onto the sidewalk.
Point is, cyclists want to be thought of as vehicles, and given the space and right of way that cars enjoy. However, they also want to ignore those vehicular restrictions whenever it suits them to do so. Every situation is different and each altercation must be investigated independently of all others.
118
All of this conversation presupposes that cyclists somehow have less of a right to the road than drivers of cars. Indeed, 25 cyclists take up two lanes and a quarter of a city block. 25 cars take up two lanes and two city blocks. Would the driver in question have run into the car in front of him should there have been 25 cars driving in front of him? Probably not.
The driver did err substantially when he (they are always "he", sorry) felt that cyclists should somehow be "out of his way" so that he could get to the next light/turn/parking spot.
That mistake of road usage priority then was amplified when he was challenged on his assumptions and he chose to run into the road user ahead of him rather than wait.
This same presumption of road usage priority is rampant within the Seattle Police Force and is the reason that if a police officer is summoned, that officer will attempt to equate equity between those who run into others and those who react to being run into, making their complaints cancel each other out. The police do this first because cyclists, being the more vulnerable road user are in imminent physical harm and thus are typically the more irate of the two parties. Police are trained to listen to the person not yelling. Second, police are also drivers of cars and generally live in the suburbs. Driving is the norm and cycling or walking are the aberration.
It's sad but will continue until the laws change and major re-education is effected on the driving public.
The driver did err substantially when he (they are always "he", sorry) felt that cyclists should somehow be "out of his way" so that he could get to the next light/turn/parking spot.
That mistake of road usage priority then was amplified when he was challenged on his assumptions and he chose to run into the road user ahead of him rather than wait.
This same presumption of road usage priority is rampant within the Seattle Police Force and is the reason that if a police officer is summoned, that officer will attempt to equate equity between those who run into others and those who react to being run into, making their complaints cancel each other out. The police do this first because cyclists, being the more vulnerable road user are in imminent physical harm and thus are typically the more irate of the two parties. Police are trained to listen to the person not yelling. Second, police are also drivers of cars and generally live in the suburbs. Driving is the norm and cycling or walking are the aberration.
It's sad but will continue until the laws change and major re-education is effected on the driving public.
119
Otto's comments are an excellent example of driver bigotry. He isn't concerned that someone was hurt or killed last night on Cap Hill because he has himself seen cyclists driving on the roads in a different manor than drivers of cars.
However he uses his own anecdotes, Otto then states that all cases should be investigated separate from others but in prior paragraphs indicts the cycling community for their wide-ranging aberrant behavior. I'm sorry, but Otto can't have it both ways.
If you ride around the bumps, you are weaving in your lane. If you ride in the middle of the lane, you are impeding traffic. If you are to the right, you are making the situation too dangerous for yourself because cars will take the chance and speed by without due care. If you pass cars that passed you, then you are not obeying the traffic law because every pass by an auto is sacrosanct. If you ride in a group, you are impeding. If you ride by yourself, you are to get out of the way.
In all of these instances, the cyclist is at fault. The only way around this faulty thinking is to make driving cars bear the true cost of their cost to society. This is most easily done with MVET's and fuel taxes as in Europe. This will cause more people to ride and walk and will change the general outlook because driving becomes the aberration.
However he uses his own anecdotes, Otto then states that all cases should be investigated separate from others but in prior paragraphs indicts the cycling community for their wide-ranging aberrant behavior. I'm sorry, but Otto can't have it both ways.
If you ride around the bumps, you are weaving in your lane. If you ride in the middle of the lane, you are impeding traffic. If you are to the right, you are making the situation too dangerous for yourself because cars will take the chance and speed by without due care. If you pass cars that passed you, then you are not obeying the traffic law because every pass by an auto is sacrosanct. If you ride in a group, you are impeding. If you ride by yourself, you are to get out of the way.
In all of these instances, the cyclist is at fault. The only way around this faulty thinking is to make driving cars bear the true cost of their cost to society. This is most easily done with MVET's and fuel taxes as in Europe. This will cause more people to ride and walk and will change the general outlook because driving becomes the aberration.
120
Why are there cars?
You are a perfect example of a douchebag. Perfect. You dismiss the meat of my argument and your idiot moniker spells out the reason why.
I don't remember you being in my car when I watched a cyclist merrily swim between all four lanes of traffic last Saturday on my drive to Capitol Hill. Where you in the glove compartment? Were you there when the cyclist knocked down the elderly woman on the sidewalk in Ballard a few years back and never even stopped to help her up, choosing instead to yell "sorry!" over his shoulder and leave only a cloud of body odor in his wake?
You're missing the biggest point, and again, your juvenile moniker- what are you, ten?- points out the reason why. Instead of being a rational person you dream of a carless society that will never happen in your grandchildren's lifetimes. You. need. to. get. smart.
Cyclists must be aware of their surroundings. Yes, drivers must also be aware of their surroundings, but the simple truth is that a car can glide right over a cyclist and the driver will probably be completely uninjured. Cyclists seem to think that the moral certainty of not being at fault in a collision will magically protect them from harm. Use your head- please! You must approach cycling among cars as you would walking in a field of brahma bulls. Any one of them could- wait for it- KILL you.
I'm not asking to have it both ways, dummy. I'm asking for cyclists to use their fucking heads and see their vulnerability, and obey the fucking traffic laws- as much as possible and always when in among other vehicles. I don't think that's too much to ask of me when I'm driving a car, and I don't think that's too much to ask of the cyclists sharing- SHARING- the roads.
More...
You are a perfect example of a douchebag. Perfect. You dismiss the meat of my argument and your idiot moniker spells out the reason why.
I don't remember you being in my car when I watched a cyclist merrily swim between all four lanes of traffic last Saturday on my drive to Capitol Hill. Where you in the glove compartment? Were you there when the cyclist knocked down the elderly woman on the sidewalk in Ballard a few years back and never even stopped to help her up, choosing instead to yell "sorry!" over his shoulder and leave only a cloud of body odor in his wake?
You're missing the biggest point, and again, your juvenile moniker- what are you, ten?- points out the reason why. Instead of being a rational person you dream of a carless society that will never happen in your grandchildren's lifetimes. You. need. to. get. smart.
Cyclists must be aware of their surroundings. Yes, drivers must also be aware of their surroundings, but the simple truth is that a car can glide right over a cyclist and the driver will probably be completely uninjured. Cyclists seem to think that the moral certainty of not being at fault in a collision will magically protect them from harm. Use your head- please! You must approach cycling among cars as you would walking in a field of brahma bulls. Any one of them could- wait for it- KILL you.
I'm not asking to have it both ways, dummy. I'm asking for cyclists to use their fucking heads and see their vulnerability, and obey the fucking traffic laws- as much as possible and always when in among other vehicles. I don't think that's too much to ask of me when I'm driving a car, and I don't think that's too much to ask of the cyclists sharing- SHARING- the roads.
121
OH MY GAWD, THIENNA, YOU DID IT, GURL. YOU GOT 100+ COMMENTS ON YOUR SLAWG POST. YOU FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO IT, SWEETIE. GOOD JOB, GURL, HOPE YOU GET THAT RAISE.
122
@120, what does your experience with the weaving cyclist have to do with a guy driving for a couple of blocks with a person on the hood of his car? Not a cyclist, not any more; a guy clinging to the windshield wipers.
The comments in this thread are all like this: "I saw a guy do this asshole thing once, so you all should be killed". Cut it out. You're all stupid.
The comments in this thread are all like this: "I saw a guy do this asshole thing once, so you all should be killed". Cut it out. You're all stupid.
123
@122, a guy clinging to the windshield wipers, because he was being a complete fucking douche, disregarding the law and everyone around him, and because he fucking got what he was asking for. End of fucking story.
125
25/Juris: Here's the deal: all the lanes were blocked by us for one block, because one rider didn't realize (off the front) that he was the only one in the far left lane. We (including myself personally) were policing him and yelling to move over to allow a passing lane. Raging driver was hostile from the very beginning, and instead of waiting at the light for the single blocking cyclist to move, he pulled -into- the mass of 40+ bikers.
Sounds like one idiot biker and one malicious asshole driver.
Yeah, the biker was wrong for blocking that left lane but it pales in comparison to what the driver did. As someone who has to deal with asshole drivers all the time (as another driver), my sympathies are with the bikers. Yes, bikers can be assholes too but I think that, as a general rule, the larger the thing you're riding on/in is, the more likely you are to be an asshole on the road (which is why, in my experience, people driving pickup trucks and SUVs tend to be more assholeish than car drivers.)
Sounds like one idiot biker and one malicious asshole driver.
Yeah, the biker was wrong for blocking that left lane but it pales in comparison to what the driver did. As someone who has to deal with asshole drivers all the time (as another driver), my sympathies are with the bikers. Yes, bikers can be assholes too but I think that, as a general rule, the larger the thing you're riding on/in is, the more likely you are to be an asshole on the road (which is why, in my experience, people driving pickup trucks and SUVs tend to be more assholeish than car drivers.)
126
Listen, people are gonna drive cars on the roads. People are gonna ride bikes on the roads. What does that mean? Why, it means we have to share the roads. Drives-that means chilling the eff out, having some patience, not driving in a fit of rage through (or over from what it sounds like) groups of cyclists. This driver was clearly in the wrong, driving away with someone who's bike you just ran over on top of your hood is just horrendous!
But cyclists- sharing the roads means not taking up the entire road with a mass of bikes, running red lights at your heart's content, boozing while riding, swerving in and out of cars. You cyclists know you have this "I'm invincible and can ride anywhere, we have loopholes, yay loopholes" attitude and it pisses drivers off. Oh btw, If you piss a driver off, get the eff out of their way. Don't stand in front of their car!
Obviously both parties are to blame for the events that went down. We're all aware of the rage and attitude that occurs between drivers and cyclists. So Seattle Powers At Be, pay attention to this, we need to make Seattle safe for drivers and cyclists. More bike lanes/better networks. Clearer bike laws that cyclists AND drivers should be required to understand. Encourage people to use bikes more often in their daily commute. If both try to exist on the roads as they are, it's very dangerous and shit like this goes down. I see it every day. But since people in this state seem to be afraid of taxes and don't know how to vote for initiatives (um, HELLO? Tax the rich?) that would produce funds for improving this situation for all road users, we're stuck cutting each other off, flipping each other off, and pissing each other off. Sad.
But cyclists- sharing the roads means not taking up the entire road with a mass of bikes, running red lights at your heart's content, boozing while riding, swerving in and out of cars. You cyclists know you have this "I'm invincible and can ride anywhere, we have loopholes, yay loopholes" attitude and it pisses drivers off. Oh btw, If you piss a driver off, get the eff out of their way. Don't stand in front of their car!
Obviously both parties are to blame for the events that went down. We're all aware of the rage and attitude that occurs between drivers and cyclists. So Seattle Powers At Be, pay attention to this, we need to make Seattle safe for drivers and cyclists. More bike lanes/better networks. Clearer bike laws that cyclists AND drivers should be required to understand. Encourage people to use bikes more often in their daily commute. If both try to exist on the roads as they are, it's very dangerous and shit like this goes down. I see it every day. But since people in this state seem to be afraid of taxes and don't know how to vote for initiatives (um, HELLO? Tax the rich?) that would produce funds for improving this situation for all road users, we're stuck cutting each other off, flipping each other off, and pissing each other off. Sad.
127
Rojo- Although his actions were clearly inexcusable and I'm very sorry that it happened to you- I am wondering if the driver didn't have real reason to be afraid? If I remember right the incident when the guy got out of the car he got his ass beat by bike locks. A group of 40 bikers? He didn't know if you were the aggro-asshole types. I might try to drive off too!!
The whole bike vs. cars makes me so sad! Just makes the streets more dangerous for everybody. I am a person who bikes and drives but prefers the bus. Even as a pedestrian I get road rage due to most people being self-entitled assholes when confronted with inconvenience.
The whole bike vs. cars makes me so sad! Just makes the streets more dangerous for everybody. I am a person who bikes and drives but prefers the bus. Even as a pedestrian I get road rage due to most people being self-entitled assholes when confronted with inconvenience.
128
@ 127 - I'm tending to agree there, if I pissed off a mob of people and some one tried to stop me by diving on the hood of my car, I might not be inclined to stop. Now I don't think I'd have tried to get around the bikers so wouldn't have been in the position in the first place but if I were, I can understand why he might not want to stop. I think the driver is at fault, but I think the cyclists escalated the issue and put themselves at further risk.
130
Come on folks, morons on bikes is about to out post the dead Indian. Let's show the world where white peoples priorities lie!
131
im drinking heavily right now (apple cider and bourbon). im about to hop on my bike and join 500 santa's parading around fremont/ballard. you know what the best thing is about this? it's that me being drunk and riding my bike on city streets is PERFECTLY LEGAL.
suck on it !
i might even ride on the sidewalk here and there. ALSO LEGAL
suck on it !
i might even ride on the sidewalk here and there. ALSO LEGAL
133
I tip my hat to you bike trolls, you are some of the best IRL (and regular internet) trolls I have seen.
134
Can wa PLEASE get a NSFW next to that link. My 10 year old was standing behind me when I clicked it, and immediately wanted to know what was going on in the bathtub scene. I ain't no prude, but that is the last thing I want my kid staring as, trying to figure out. Also, I was full of sympathy for the poor beleaguared cyclists, until I clicked their link and swifly figured out they are immature assholes. ALSO - You can show the butt but you have to blur the coochie? Since when?
135
FYI to derrickito @ 131 (among others) -- Being drunk and riding your bike on city streets is PERFECTLY ILLEGAL. (h/t http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/arc… )
Section 46.61.502 of the Revised Code of Washington, which details driving under the influence and penalties, refers to people driving a vehicle. A vehicle, as defined in section 46.04.670, "includes every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, including bicycles."
136
@135 Yeah, but it carries a smaller penalty than you'd think, similar to running over a cyclist. Might as well do what you want and run the risk of *possibly* getting in trouble.
137
@135 or maybe you could reference the section titled "Intoxicated bicyclists."
RCW 46.61.790
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?…
I can't wait for you to offer me a ride home.
RCW 46.61.790
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?…
I can't wait for you to offer me a ride home.
139
@ 138 -- RCW's were subsequenly amended to make legislative intent explicit, closing the loophole your 1998 appellant skated through.
DUI, and as the saying goes, "tell it to the judge".
DUI, and as the saying goes, "tell it to the judge".
140
@139 - What amendment? The session law citations I see are 2000 c 85 § 4 (creating RCW 41.61.790 re: intoxicated bicyclists), 2006 c 73 § 1 (classifying DUI as a class C felony under certain conditions), and 2008 c 282 § 20 (adding out-of-state offenses to the class C felony conditions). Nothing I see that would extend DUI to cyclists.
141
This is the internet, you can't win without a link.
Come on, you had one earlier: flesh out that rebuttal.
Come on, you had one earlier: flesh out that rebuttal.
142
im having a beer right now, then im going to go out and pick up some christmas presents downtown via bike.
143
Well, you bike drunks may be right. I should have checked the RCW history more closely. Litigation in the Grays Harbor case seems to have stopped at Court of Appeals (Div II), and Seattle City Attorney's office may hold a contrary view, but have at it.
Dtill, Fed stix say BUI accounts for 30% of bicycle fatalities ... or so I've heard.
Dtill, Fed stix say BUI accounts for 30% of bicycle fatalities ... or so I've heard.
144
I can't really bring myself to ride in groups like this anymore because I drive too, and I get really fucking mad when people are inconsiderate and in my way.
I'm torn because at the same time, deep down I think we should all walk or bike or take public transportation. I drive now because it's extremely frustrating and difficult to get by without a car where I live (not a livable neighborhood with work nearby)
In the future I hope Seattle bans cars from at least 1/4 of the city streets--some day from all streets. Bikes and cars have too much trouble sharing the road and it's way too easy to hit a cyclist, by accident alone
I'm torn because at the same time, deep down I think we should all walk or bike or take public transportation. I drive now because it's extremely frustrating and difficult to get by without a car where I live (not a livable neighborhood with work nearby)
In the future I hope Seattle bans cars from at least 1/4 of the city streets--some day from all streets. Bikes and cars have too much trouble sharing the road and it's way too easy to hit a cyclist, by accident alone
145
Ever rush your kiddo to the ER late at night on a bike?
There has been a hand full of times I've hand to rush my spouse or my son to the ER through the city. . . car traffic going legally 20 mph (30mph on the arterials) is fine. . . each time I really worried about getting behind a critical mass ride er something. I worried they only see my car as an elite pig, late for their high end restaurant reservation. . . ah no.
Sometimes people do have to get somewhere and going 5mph doesn't help when your kiddo is really sick and scared.
Doesn't mean anyone deserves to get run over. Just keep in mind that not all people in cars are just careless, callous and don't have anywhere to go. . . that they're just impatient.
There has been a hand full of times I've hand to rush my spouse or my son to the ER through the city. . . car traffic going legally 20 mph (30mph on the arterials) is fine. . . each time I really worried about getting behind a critical mass ride er something. I worried they only see my car as an elite pig, late for their high end restaurant reservation. . . ah no.
Sometimes people do have to get somewhere and going 5mph doesn't help when your kiddo is really sick and scared.
Doesn't mean anyone deserves to get run over. Just keep in mind that not all people in cars are just careless, callous and don't have anywhere to go. . . that they're just impatient.
146
Get a clue, people. Going out on 30 lb bicycles to purposely piss off people driving 2 ton automobiles is pretty much like showing up at a gunfight armed only with a knife. The only thing that it has going for it is that it helps cleanse the gene pool.
Yeah, I don't understand this angle. Do you think only drivers have access to guns? Man's capacity for violence isn't linked to his choice of transportation, you know. And "some guy on a bike" is a hell of a lot harder to track down than "a blue Chevy Tahoe with license plate 'DMZ 332'"
People don't fuck with motorcyclists, because for a long while there, they had a reputation such that they would shoot you in the fucking face if you looked at them sideways.
So let's all be careful out there.
Yeah, I don't understand this angle. Do you think only drivers have access to guns? Man's capacity for violence isn't linked to his choice of transportation, you know. And "some guy on a bike" is a hell of a lot harder to track down than "a blue Chevy Tahoe with license plate 'DMZ 332'"
People don't fuck with motorcyclists, because for a long while there, they had a reputation such that they would shoot you in the fucking face if you looked at them sideways.
So let's all be careful out there.
147
I love that half the anti-bike arguments seem to boil down to "Baby, if you don't want me to keep slapping you around, then stop making me mad and get outa my way."
You sure know how to keep it classy, Sloggers.
You sure know how to keep it classy, Sloggers.
148
OK, there is no question, the driver was seriously in the wrong here. Road rage is not the proper response. That said, I would have been scared to death if I were surrounded by 40+ cyclists yelling at me - I totally would have left the scene.
Oh and @144, keep the dream alive. Roads were built BECAUSE of cars, their repair is paid for (at least in part) by licensing fees on cars, cars are not going to be banned from the roadways.
Oh and @144, keep the dream alive. Roads were built BECAUSE of cars, their repair is paid for (at least in part) by licensing fees on cars, cars are not going to be banned from the roadways.
149
Yeah, drunk hipsters on fixies singing carols outposts the dead Indian. We knew u could do it stuffwhitepeoplelikedotcom! We knee your hearts weren't in for the Indian!
150
Whenever a bike drunk gets squished, the driver of the car gets a free flat screen TV from Fry's Electronics. Doesn't everyone already know that?
A nice one too- not a shitty 30 incher.
A nice one too- not a shitty 30 incher.
151
@149 <---- Yuppie on a Cervelo. I was wearing a Banana Republic shawl-necked, wool sweater and a wide-striped Brooks Brothers tie at the time of the incident.
152
I drive a very small car. If I am one of a group of cars unable to move forward because of slow-moving traffic, is it an appropriate response for the 3-ton SUV behind me to simply crush me in their rage at being unable to move forward? Would people say, well, what do you expect, driving that little bitty thing and BLOCKING A WHOLE LANE!!!11!!!!
Honest to God, people, the appropriate reaction to inconvenience is not to try to fucking kill people. I hate when traffic comes to a dead stop on the freeway, so I scream curses (when I don't have my convertible top down, I had to learn not to do that anymore) or I turn up the radio. I don't go on a fucking killing spree. I don't run people over.
Yeah, the bikers were dicks. The driver of the car is a fucking dangerous lunatic.
Honest to God, people, the appropriate reaction to inconvenience is not to try to fucking kill people. I hate when traffic comes to a dead stop on the freeway, so I scream curses (when I don't have my convertible top down, I had to learn not to do that anymore) or I turn up the radio. I don't go on a fucking killing spree. I don't run people over.
Yeah, the bikers were dicks. The driver of the car is a fucking dangerous lunatic.
154
I hate these bicyclists just like a hate Critical Mass. Caroling is something you do walking around on the sidewalk so people have a chance to hear you. It's not something you do rolling down the middle of the street.
Obviously vehicular assault isn't the answer, but they all should have been pulled over and ticketed. If drunk, they should have gotten DUIs.
I bike everyday, jackasses like these people make my life harder.
Obviously vehicular assault isn't the answer, but they all should have been pulled over and ticketed. If drunk, they should have gotten DUIs.
I bike everyday, jackasses like these people make my life harder.
155
new law, NO SINGING WHILE RIDING BICYCLES.
also, HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED YOUR MEAT?
also, HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED YOUR MEAT?
156
What is wrong with you people??
There is a big difference between an idiot (and maybe drunk) driver and an idiot (and maybe drunk) cyclist.
One can KILL you quite easily.
One can bump into you and irritate you.
Sure both may be wrong, but trying to drive over some one with A CAR is different from taking up a bunch of bike lanes. Were the bikers wrong? maybe. Should the driver be charged with attempted murder for DRIVING WITH SOMEONE ON HIS HOOD? Yes. He should have to take anger management classes for the next five years at least.
I'm 24, and I've been riding my bike for the last 12 years, because I don't have a rich daddy who drives me around/buys me a car. I pay my own way, and that budget doesn't include a car. I've been hit four times, obeying all traffic laws. My step dad has metal plates in his skull, is partially blind, and can't drive cos when he was 16 he was hit by a 18 wheeler on his bike. It boils my blood to see people on the side of a road rager. it's fucking scary being on a bike and getting hit by a car, especially when society at large blames the victim.
Fuck all of you.
There is a big difference between an idiot (and maybe drunk) driver and an idiot (and maybe drunk) cyclist.
One can KILL you quite easily.
One can bump into you and irritate you.
Sure both may be wrong, but trying to drive over some one with A CAR is different from taking up a bunch of bike lanes. Were the bikers wrong? maybe. Should the driver be charged with attempted murder for DRIVING WITH SOMEONE ON HIS HOOD? Yes. He should have to take anger management classes for the next five years at least.
I'm 24, and I've been riding my bike for the last 12 years, because I don't have a rich daddy who drives me around/buys me a car. I pay my own way, and that budget doesn't include a car. I've been hit four times, obeying all traffic laws. My step dad has metal plates in his skull, is partially blind, and can't drive cos when he was 16 he was hit by a 18 wheeler on his bike. It boils my blood to see people on the side of a road rager. it's fucking scary being on a bike and getting hit by a car, especially when society at large blames the victim.
Fuck all of you.
157
@156- I'm not taking anyone's side. This is a case of a bunch of assholes encountering another asshole.
158
True story: DerrickIto has ridden his bike over me and I survived.
(long story, but basically my pedal failed, I fell, he needed to roll over or crash into, then we went to a taco truck, we had tacos)
(long story, but basically my pedal failed, I fell, he needed to roll over or crash into, then we went to a taco truck, we had tacos)
159
Also: I got doored later that night (after Derrickito rolled over me). The guy pulled off into a parking lot, apologized, and gave me a ride to my friend's show. I let it slide because I only ripped open some skin, my bike only had 2ish hours of labor into being repaired, and the guy didn't actively and repeatedly endanger my life through clearly negligent and reckless behavior.
We exchanged words when it first happened, but we both quickly calmed down, pulled it off to the side, and sorted out.
That's what you do.
We exchanged words when it first happened, but we both quickly calmed down, pulled it off to the side, and sorted out.
That's what you do.
160
It's not just rich yuppies who ride bikes, it's poor people who can't afford cars too. Nice to know we're expendable proles who brought it on ourselves.
161
So if a truck runs over some drunken Iraqis, it's the Iraqis fault for being drunk? Same logic, 157.
162
If it was a called a "holiday flash mob" and there was dancing, it would have been fine. But they were on bikes. So they're dicks. Makes sense to me.
163
being dicks and thinking 'they got what they had coming to them' are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
I'll file this under "they got what they had coming to them".
Don't like the reactions? Learn to behave.
When you go looking for trouble and then trouble finds you, well, dang. Too bad, dudes.
Roll out in front of me on your squirrely little bicycle and I'll run over your little hipster butt.
This shit literally scares me. I'm starting to have panic attacks when cars get too close to me. Why is this attitude acceptable? Why is it not a chargeable offense to hit someone and have them sprawled across the hood of your cars. YOU ARE IN A METAL DEATH CAGE AIMING IT AT PEDESTRIANS. This was a road raging maniac who HIT a man with a large metal fast moving object. That is FUCKING ASSAULT. Just because you don't like what someone is doing doesn't mean you get to assault/attempt to murder them. WTF is wrong with you that you can't see this? It's not up for debate. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TRY TO KILL PEOPLE-EVER-FOR ANY REASON.
I almost got hit twice last week just crossing the street because two cars decided to speed through a red light. Fuck all of you drivers. I don't care what you think of me. I am going to kick in the side window of the next car that swerves at me.
I'll file this under "they got what they had coming to them".
Don't like the reactions? Learn to behave.
When you go looking for trouble and then trouble finds you, well, dang. Too bad, dudes.
Roll out in front of me on your squirrely little bicycle and I'll run over your little hipster butt.
This shit literally scares me. I'm starting to have panic attacks when cars get too close to me. Why is this attitude acceptable? Why is it not a chargeable offense to hit someone and have them sprawled across the hood of your cars. YOU ARE IN A METAL DEATH CAGE AIMING IT AT PEDESTRIANS. This was a road raging maniac who HIT a man with a large metal fast moving object. That is FUCKING ASSAULT. Just because you don't like what someone is doing doesn't mean you get to assault/attempt to murder them. WTF is wrong with you that you can't see this? It's not up for debate. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TRY TO KILL PEOPLE-EVER-FOR ANY REASON.
I almost got hit twice last week just crossing the street because two cars decided to speed through a red light. Fuck all of you drivers. I don't care what you think of me. I am going to kick in the side window of the next car that swerves at me.
165
Probably trying to hide the fact that some of their members weren't toeing the company line.
"we srsly need to work better at maintaining at least one lane for traffic to pass.
remember the golden fucking rule people. and try to be nice for god sake."
"we srsly need to work better at maintaining at least one lane for traffic to pass.
remember the golden fucking rule people. and try to be nice for god sake."
170
@157: You must have meant to respond to someone else. I excuse no one's behavior here. Bicyclists blocking traffic because for their own amusement are being assholes. Drunks operating vehicles on the road are a danger to themselves and others and should be fined. People who drive over said bicyclists are committing assault with a deadly weapon and should be in jail.
It's a clusterfuck I'm glad not to be a part of, and as daily bike commuter the bicyclists' behavior gives me a bad name. I don't own a car, so my ox is not gored by the driver.
It's a clusterfuck I'm glad not to be a part of, and as daily bike commuter the bicyclists' behavior gives me a bad name. I don't own a car, so my ox is not gored by the driver.
172
@166/167: Nope.
@168: Seeing as I've moving backwards through the Kübler-Ross model and I'm currently at straddling anger into denial: no. Maybe if she swings by, which I very much doubt will happen since we try to avoid each other outside circle-of-friends functions.
@168: Seeing as I've moving backwards through the Kübler-Ross model and I'm currently at straddling anger into denial: no. Maybe if she swings by, which I very much doubt will happen since we try to avoid each other outside circle-of-friends functions.
173
@172. There is a cute bearded well dressed boy that I see in my building that parks his bike outside the door. The other day it had looked like someone ran it over. I promise I wasn't being a creeper :) Just a coincidence I guess!
174
@173 While I am cute, bearded, and well dressed, my bikes sleep inside; the roommate and I have a hanging-bike-parking setup in the living room.
You might try: http://thestranger.selectalternatives.co…
You might try: http://thestranger.selectalternatives.co…
175
@170 So if a girlfriend mouths off to her boyfriend, and then he beats her and breaks her orbital bone...you don't take sides? Bitch mouthed off, that's not okay in a relationship. Clearly both are assholes.
Saying 'I'm not taking sides, they're both assholes' ignores the VAST distance between the alleged crimes.
Saying 'I'm not taking sides, they're both assholes' ignores the VAST distance between the alleged crimes.
176
@175,
I'm under the assumption that no bitches were slapped during this event.
Can you correct me?
I'm under the assumption that no bitches were slapped during this event.
Can you correct me?
177
@175- So when I say "One person should be charged for assault with a deadly weapon and the other people should be charged with DUI if applicable." that seems the same to you? Get the fucking pole out of your ass.
178
Judging by some of these comments, sounds like cyclists would be perfectly justified in carrying firearms.
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